Jablanica lake

Jablanica lake covers approximately 24 square kilometers with a maximum depth of 80 meters, situated at an elevation of 202 meters above sea level along the M17 road connecting Sarajevo and Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Created between 1953 and 1954 during Marshal Tito's era, this artificial reservoir was constructed as part of a hydroelectric power project on the Neretva River, requiring the destruction of several villages and forcing inhabitants to relocate from their ancestral homes.

The area surrounding the lake contains numerous archaeological sites featuring hundreds of medieval tombstones called stećci, which provide valuable insights into historic burial practices and represent an important aspect of Bosnia and Herzegovina's cultural heritage.

Visitors can reach the lake via the M17 highway and enjoy tourist facilities concentrated in the southern section, particularly around Ostrožac village, which offers beaches, boat rentals, restaurants, hotels, and camping sites for recreational activities.

During the extreme drought of 2012, the lowered water level revealed a submerged cemetery that had been flooded during the lake's creation, providing a haunting reminder of the social and cultural costs associated with this major hydraulic infrastructure project.

Location: Općina Jablanica

Elevation above the sea: 202 m

Address: Lake Jablanica, Bosnia and Herzegovina

GPS coordinates: 43.69510,17.85180

Latest update: July 23, 2025 10:57